Combined power and fiber optic communication plug and receptacle

• US 5,967,840 A
• Filed: 02/03/1998
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Campolo, Steve, Rose, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONOVAN, LINCOLN D
• Application Number:
  US09/017,983
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 439/577, 439/246-9, 385/76-7, 385/84, 385/88-89, 385/90, 385/92, 385/139
• US Class Current: 439/577
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence

Abstract

A combined power and fiber optic cable can be terminated and connected to a second such cable. The male plug, in addition to its two male blades and hollow ground pin, carries a fiber optic conductor spring mounted to the plug. The receptacle has the normal female contact and ground pin contact to receive the blades and ground pin, respectively. The receptacle further carries a fiber optic conductor. When the male plug and receptacle are joined the electrical circuit between electrical conductors joined to the plug and receptacle are closed. In addition the end faces of the fiber optic conductors within the plug and receptacle are joined. The spring allows the fiber optic conductor of the plug to stay in intimate contact with the fiber optic conductor of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A connection system including a plug and a receptacle for composite cable having electrical conductor and fiber optic components comprising:

a) a receptacle body member having at least two blade apertures and a ground pin aperture in a first face;

b) at least two female contacts, one for each of said at least two blade apertures and each positioned adjacent an associated one of said blade apertures and a further ground contact positioned adjacent said ground pin aperture;

c) a tube in said receptacle body member, said tube having an outside surface, a first end set back from a front face of said receptacle body member, and a second end and a bore extending through said tube from said first end to said second end, said ground contact positioned adjacent said tube outside surface;

d) a first optical fiber having a third end with a first end face at said third end and a fourth end, said first optical fiber positioned in said bore of said tube with said third end positioned in said bore of said tube with said third end positioned adjacent said first face of said receptacle body member;

e) a plug member having at least two male blades, one for each of said at least two blade apertures in said receptacle body member, and a hollow ground pin extending from a second face of said plug member, said at least two male blades and said hollow ground pin so dimensioned and arranged to enter said at least two blade apertures and said ground pin aperture in said receptacle body member and make electrical contact with associated at least two female contacts and ground contact in said receptacle body member; and

;

f) a second optical fiber having a fifth end with a second end face at said fifth end and a sixth end, said second optical fiber positioned in said hollow ground pin with said fifth end of said second optical fiber set back from a free end of said ground pin whereby when said plug member is plugged into said receptacle body member, said at least two male blades each engage associated at least two female contacts and said hollow ground pin engages said ground contact and said first end face of said first optical fiber is positioned in contact with said second end face of said second optical fiber.

2. A connection system, as defined in claim 1, further comprising spring means about said second optical fiber adjacent said fifth end to urge said second end face at said fifth end of said second optical fiber into intimate contact with said first end face at said third end of said first optical fiber.

3. A connection system, as defined in claim 2, wherein said spring has a first end engaging said second optical fiber adjacent said fifth end and a second end engaging said plug member second face.

4. A connection system, as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first optical fiber grip means adjacent a third face of said receptacle body member, whereby said third end of said first optical fiber is fixed with respect to said first face of said body member.

5. A connection system, as defined in claim 2, further comprising a first optical fiber grip means, to grip said first optical fiber adjacent a third face of said receptacle body member, whereby said third end of said first optical fiber is fixed with respect to said first face of said receptacle body member.

6. A connection system, as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second optical fiber grip means to grip said second optical fiber adjacent a fourth face of said plug member, whereby said second optical fiber is permitted to move along a longitudinal axis of said second optical fiber.

7. A connection system, as defined in claim 5, further comprising a second optical fiber grip means to grip said second optical fiber adjacent a fourth face of said plug member, whereby said second optical fiber is permitted to move along a longitudinal axis of said second optical fiber.

8. A connection system, as defined in claim 1, wherein said hollow ground pin has a U-shaped cross-section.

9. A connection system as defined in claim 7, wherein said hollow ground pin has a U-shaped cross-section.

10. A connection system, as defined in claim 8, wherein said hollow ground pin has an inside surface and an outside surface and said inside surface of said ground pin passes along said outside surface of said tube and said outside surface of said hollow ground pin engages said ground contact.

11. A connection system, as defined claim 9, wherein said hollow ground pin has an inside surface and an outside surface and said inside surface of said ground pin passes along said outside surface of said tube and said outside surface of said hollow ground pin engages said ground contact.